    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book III)]
    [November 18, 2004]
    [Pages 3003-3005]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Memorandum on Strengthening Central Intelligence Agency Capabilities
    November 18, 2004

    Memorandum for the Director of Central Intelligence

    Subject: Strengthening Central Intelligence Agency Capabilities

        The Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks
    Upon the United States recommended:
          The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director should emphasize
            (a) rebuilding the CIA's analytic capabilities; (b) transforming
            the clandestine service by building its human intelligence
            capabilities; (c) developing a stronger language program, with
            high standards and sufficient financial incentives; (d) renewing
            emphasis on recruiting diversity among operations officers so
            they can blend more easily in foreign cities; (e) ensuring a
            seamless relationship between human source collection and
            signals collection at the operational level; and (f) stressing a
            better balance between unilateral and liaison operations.
        I approve and direct you to implement these recommendations,
    recognizing that significant progress has already been made in
    rebuilding the CIA's capabilities under the Strengthening Intelligence
    Initiative and the Director of Central Intelligence's (DCI) Strategic
    Direction, especially with respect to all-source analysis, clandestine
    operations, information sharing, and foreign languages.
        Working within the framework established by the Strengthening
    Intelligence Initiative, I direct you to implement within the CIA
    measures to:
           (1)  Further strengthen the core capabilities of the CIA to meet
                the intelligence challenges presented by international
                terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
                (WMD), and other critical national security issues,
                including, but not limited to, its capabilities to:

           (a)  Perform all-source intelligence analysis that, among other
                qualities, routinely considers, and presents to national
                security policymakers, diverse views;

           (b)  Conduct clandestine collection operations involving human
                sources and technical methods unilaterally, with other
                elements of the Intelligence Community, and with foreign
                partners, and conduct covert action operations as directed
                by the President;

           (c)  Share information rapidly and proactively with other
                agencies of the United States Government, including
                specifically those responsible for national security and
                homeland security, while protecting the sources and methods
                of its collection from unauthorized disclosure, giving top
                priority to support of governmental actions to detect,
                prevent, preempt, and disrupt terrorist threats and attacks
                on the United States, its people, and its allies and
                interests around the globe; and

           (d)  Collect, process, analyze, and disseminate intelligence
                information using personnel proficient in foreign languages,
                and develop information technology tools to assist in
                effective processing and use of foreign language
                information.

           (2)  Ensure that the CIA processes, shares, and disseminates to
                the President, Vice President in the performance of
                Executive functions, and other appropriate officials in the
                executive branch, including the heads of departments and
                agencies with elements in the Intelligence Community,
                terrorism

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                information and other information relevant to national
                security and homeland security including as directed by
                Executive Order 13356 of August 27, 2004, entitled
                ``Strengthening the Sharing of Terrorism Information to
                Protect Americans.''
        Building on levels attained under the DCI's Strategic Direction I,
    measures implemented in accordance with the foregoing shall include, but
    not be limited to, actions to:
           (1)  Strengthen CIA intelligence analysis capabilities
                substantially and promptly through actions to:
           (a)  Increase, as soon as feasible, the number of fully
                qualified, all-source analysts by 50 percent;
           (b)  Assign fully qualified, all-source analysts in a manner that
                strengthens CIA and Intelligence Community analytical
                capabilities focused on terrorism, proliferation of WMD, the
                Near East and South Asia, and other key strategic areas in
                Asia, while maintaining substantial analytical capabilities
                focused on other issues and regions;
           (c)  Increase investment in development of their analytic
                expertise, field experience, and training in advanced
                analytical methods, including for geospatial analysis; and
           (d)  Continue to acquire and develop tools that enable analysts
                to connect to counterparts inside and outside of government,
                increase the speed of the analytic workflow, and deal with
                the rapidly increasing volume of all-source information.
           (2)  Strengthen CIA human intelligence operations capabilities
                substantially and promptly through actions to:
           (a)  Increase, as soon as feasible, the number of fully qualified
                officers in the Directorate of Operations by 50 percent;
           (b)  Ensure that a majority of these officers are collectors
                drawn from diverse backgrounds with the skills, experience,
                and training needed for the effective conduct of human
                intelligence operations;
           (c)  Assign substantial numbers of these officers to collection
                missions reflecting the priorities established through the
                National Intelligence Priorities Framework; and
           (d)  Integrate effectively, as appropriate to particular
                collection activities, human intelligence collection
                capabilities and signals and other technical intelligence
                collection capabilities.
           (3)  Improve the foreign language capabilities of the CIA through
                actions to:
           (a)  Increase, as soon as feasible, the number of CIA officers
                tested and proficient in mission-critical languages by 50
                percent; and
           (b)  Develop and employ information technology tools to assist in
                processing and use of information in foreign languages.
           (4)  Fully implement directives concerning information sharing,
                information technology, information privacy, and security
                including Executive Order 13354 of August 27, 2004, entitled
                ``National Counterterrorism Center'' and Executive Order
                13356.
           (5)  Double, as soon as feasible, the number of officers who are
                engaged in research and development to find new ways to
                bring science to bear in the war on terrorism, countering
                the proliferation of WMD, and against new and emerging
                threats.
        I direct you to submit to me within 90 days from the date of this
    memorandum, through the Assistant to the President for National Security
    Affairs and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, a
    detailed budget and implementation plan, including performance measures,
    with

    [[Page 3005]]

    timelines for achievement of specific, measurable goals. In addition to
    the capabilities enumerated above, this plan shall also include a
    description, with appropriate performance measures, of steps underway at
    the CIA to develop and implement new collection strategies against
    difficult targets, to integrate human and technical collection tools, to
    assure appropriate access by analysts to information on the sources of
    critical intelligence reporting, to expand relationships with experts
    outside of government and otherwise ensure diverse views are routinely
    reflected in finished intelligence products. A copy of this plan will be
    provided to the Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the
    United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction, which will advise
    me on the adequacy of the plan, especially with respect to countering
    the threat posed by WMD. Beginning in June 2005, I direct you to report
    to me at least semi-annually, through the Assistant to the President for
    National Security Affairs and the Director of the Office of Management
    and Budget, on progress made implementing this memorandum.
        This memorandum shall be implemented subject to the availability of
    appropriations and in a manner consistent with applicable law, including
    the Constitution and laws protecting the freedom and information privacy
    of Americans.

                                                              George W. Bush

    Note: This memorandum was released by the Office of the Press Secretary
    on November 23.